Newport Gwent Dragons 22 Glasgow Warriors 14: match report

Read a full match report of the Heineken Cup game between Newport Gwent
Dragons and Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade, Newport on Friday Oct 16,
2009.

By Graham Clutton

9:34PM BST 16 Oct 2009

The anguish of last week's pool defeat at the hands of Gloucester gave way to renewed hope for the Dragons as tries from Adam Jones, Luke Charteris and Martyn Thomas earned them a first Heineken Cup victory of the season.

At the same time, a second successive loss for Glasgow all but brings to an end their chance of even challenging the major players in what is likely to be the poorest of all this season's qualifying groups.

The Scots, successful raiders in Cardiff in the Magners League last month, were a shadow of the side that punished the Blues on that occasion. A catalogue of unforced errors, a lack of intensity and precious little punch where it mattered most, at forward, gifted an under-strength Dragons side a victory that was justified, if only for their honest endeavour.

After an opening dozen minutes during which both sides had done their level best to undermine their own quest for success, the Dragons broke the deadlock when second row Adam Jones was driven over from a close-in line out for outside half James Arlidge to convert.

Shorn of their forward lynch-pin in Joe Bearman and with a scrum held together by a pair of props who have spent much of the season playing club rugby, the Dragons allowed Glasgow back in to the contest when one of those front-row forwards, Peter Bracken, waved Johnnie Beattie in at the posts.

Dan Parks' conversion levelled matters before finally, the Dragons rediscovered the poise that had taken them so close at Gloucester seven days previous.

Arlidge, a smooth operator on the front foot, dropped a goal on 32 minutes to edge his side in front and after Beattie had been yellow carded for some over enthusiastic rucking, captain Luke Charteris galloped over for a try in front of watching Wales coach Warren Gatland.

A minute later, in first half stoppage time, full-back Martyn Thomas won a foot race with Graeme Morrison to all but make the game safe with his side's third try of the night.

A yellow card for a dangerous tackle by flanker Dan Lydiate did provide Glasgow with an early second half incentive, but such was their inaccuracy with ball in hand that victory was never in reach.

For the Dragons, it was an exercise in basic survival. With Bracken finding life at the coal-face a little more exacting these days and without Bearman's influence off the back of the scrum, their attacking edge was lost.

Glasgow made the most of their short spell in control with a try from replacement Kevin Tkachuk, but it was all too little too late as the Dragons held on to keep alive those slim hopes of a place in the last eight, for the first time.